Tonya (the Night Writer)

first off--buy my book!











visit my nursing blog on advanceweb.com---comments always appreciated:
http://community.advanceweb.com/bloggroups/41/Home.aspx



Update--it's such a good feeling knowing that you finished a big project that you've been working on since the beginning of time (okay, it's been like 6 years, seriously). i can't wait to start pushing my book...okay bookS on everyone in sight! : )



Yes, I'm a Cancer

Tonyaism for the day: "Writing allows you to do things you can't do in real life, because you're too nice, or not that kind of girl, or because you don't want to go to jail."

My name is Tonya and I'm a writer. (which is in some ways better than being an alcoholic and in some ways worse, I would imagine).
I write anything and everything, just like I read anything and everything. I started writing as a hobby when I was about 8 years old because the whole third grade had to write a story for the young author's contest and I won a certificate for my story being chosen as the third place winner. I was so happy about that, and I've been writing ever since. I remember telling Santa Claus that I wanted a typewriter because I was a writer. At the age of about 22 I decided to start sending my work to actual publishers, because obviously I decided I wasn't getting enough rejection in my life. : ) I'm now 29 and
I've been published a few times(see my published writing below)! I write for myself but have to admit that it's a great feeling when someone wants to actually publish some of my drivel. I love to write and have several binders full of work, most of which will never been seen by anyone but me. Oh, and my "day job" is nursing, althought it's not really a day job because I work midnight shifts. I love reading new things and I'd like to add to my oh-so-impressive library by buying less books from the few rich and famous authors out there (not that I don't still love you Stephen King), and buying more from my fellow "starving artists." Especially if you can get me a signed copy, I love those!


My Published Writing

�Make a Resolution to Save a Life,� The Colonial Heights Patriot (newspaper),Jan 9, 2005
�Nursing Riddles,� Advance for LPNs Magazine (print version), May 29, 2006
�A Donation of Life,� Advance for LPNs Magazine(print version), June 26, 2006
�Have No Fear,� Advance for LPNs (online version), July 1, 2006
�Find the Hidden Message,� Advance for LPNs Magazine(print version), Sept 18, 2006
�Fall,� (a poem), Vain Magazine, (print version and featured on website,callmevain.com), Nov 2007
�You Might Be a Nurse if�� Advance for LPNs Magazine (print version), Nov 2007
�The Right Place at the Right Time,� Advanceweb (online, now on staff), Jan 29, 2008
�That New-Nurse Smell,� Advanceweb, Feb 7, 2008

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

The following originally appeared as winners of a
"Worst Analogies ever written in a High School Essay Contest"
in the Washington Post Style Invitational"

He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
Joseph Romm, Washington

She caught your eye like one of those pointy hook latches that used to dangle from screen doors and would fly up whenever you banged the door open again.
Rich Murphy, Fairfax Station

The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.
Russell Beland, Springfield

McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty Bag filled with vegetable soup.
Paul Sabourin, Silver Spring

From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30.
Roy Ashley, Washington

Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze.
Chuck Smith, Woodbridge

Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center.
Russell Beland, Springfield

Bob was as perplexed as a hacker who means to access T:flw.quid55328.comaaakk/ch@ung but gets T:flw.quidaaakk/ch@ung by mistake
Ken Krattenmaker, Landover Hills

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
Unknown

He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.
Jack Bross, Chevy Chase

The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
Gary F. Hevel, Silver Spring

Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man."
Russell Beland, Springfield

Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
Jennifer Hart, Arlington

The politician was gone but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can.
Wayne Goode, Madison, Ala.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth
Paul Kocak, Syracuse, N.Y.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
Russell Beland, Springfield

The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play.
Barbara Fetherolf, Alexandria

His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free
Chuck Smith, Woodbridge

The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon.
Unknown


Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com